Workman’s Compensation is a right for all employees in California. It seems like a simple idea, and one designed with the workers’ best interests in mind. The truth, unfortunately, can be a lot more complicated than that. Avoid learning this lesson out the hard way by hiring a qualified attorney as soon as you are sick or injured on the job.
The way the system works begins with your employer. They are required to cover Workman’s Compensation insurance privately or through a state or federal (in the case of federal employees) entity. The system is really set up with your place of work in mind and relates to you as far as you are a part of it.
This means that after you are injured, your claim will go through with the following objectives: to help you heal so you may return to work, to cover your medical expenses, and to compensate you for the wages you may have missed from your injury. This can also apply to illnesses encountered on the job from exposure to toxins, germs, etc.
In fact, we can break down the most common kind of Workman’s Comp claims into two groups:
One-Time Event:
Continuous Action or Exposure:
While the one-time event type of injury or illnesses may seem more apparent, you would be surprised how many people don’t come forward immediately, trying to “tough it out,” or “wait and see.” This can be a disastrous approach as, primarily, you may be causing further or permanent damage to yourself by not taking time to heal or seek medical help. Unfortunately, though, that is not the only risk you are taking if you wait: you may also miss your opportunity to benefit from this insurance that is literally designed for you. If you do not report your accident within 30 days, you may become ineligible for compensation.
Once you have submitted your claim, your employer is responsible for your medical care. You are also protected from retaliation, in the form of firing or reduced hours, if you need to miss work to heal or to go to medical appointments. Another thing to keep in mind is that you may be eligible for these benefits even if you are a temporary or part-time worker.
If you are facing any kind of intimidation or misleading advice about these rights, or about the process in general, make sure you contact an attorney right away. However, even if everything seems to be going smoothly with the process, you may be better off with legal advice all the same. The thing is- the way the payouts are designed is very complicated, and your employer or their insurance company do not actually have your best interests at heart. They could be motivated to downplay your injuries and assign you less compensation than you actually deserve by law. Also of concern is the fact that once you file these claims, you are effectively giving up your right to sue for personal injury. For all these reasons, make sure you contact an established attorney as soon as you are considering workman’s compensation.
blogs
Five Helpful Facts About Dog Bites
Dog bites are not only relatively common, but they can be incredibly dangerous. If you’re bitten by a dog, you run the risk of the obvious wound to your flesh or bone, but you also are at risk for an infection, including tetanus and rabies. It can be helpful to know how to treat such […]
Five Safety Products for Motorcycle Riders
Approximately ten percent of motor vehicle deaths in the United States can be attributed to motorcycleaccidents. Safe riding and defensive driving are important to all motor vehicle operations, of course, but making sure you’re stocked up on the right equipment to make your ride as safe as possible is critical to avoiding accidents or, in […]
Five Apps for Increased Road Safety
Staying safe on the road is more important as more and more cities become increasingly dependent on automobile transportation. Increasedroad safety is about diligence and attentive driving, but there are also ways to “gamify” or in other ways incentivize safe driving, through smartphone apps. Here are five apps designed to keep you less distracted and […]
Top 4 Personal Injury Myths
Personal injury cases are more rampant than you can ever imagine. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 31 million of the injuries that occur every year often call for medical care. Considering their prevalence, it comes as no surprise that there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding personal injury. Think you got […]
Personal Injury Claims: When Do you Need a Lawyer?
In cases where there are severe injuries, toxic exposure, or malpractice, you will need a personal injury lawyer. However, there are also instances when you don’t need a lawyer. Although you might need a lawyer to represent you in court if there are complex legal issues that need to be handled, other injury claims might […]
Involved In A Car Accident? Here’s Why You Should Engage a Car Accident Lawyer
It is never easy to live a normal life after surviving the horrors of a severe car wreck. In the United States alone, millions of individuals get injured in car accidents every year. According to research, most of these disasters are caused by several factors that include speeding, inattentive driving, inexperienced driving, reckless driving, and […]
Five Products for Increased Bicycle Safety
Bicycle accidents are unfortunately increasingly common in both California and Arizona, causing many to seek damages to compensate for their losses. Defensive driving and being aware of your surroundings are the best tools for safety, as is making sure your bicycle is properly maintained, making sure to wear a helmet, and obeying all street laws […]
Top 3 Benefits of Engaging a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles
Top 3 Benefits of Engaging a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles Being in a car accident, regardless of how minor, can be pretty devastating. So, if you’ve recently been involved in a car accident in Los Angeles and you are confused, we assure you it is completely normal to feel that way. Car accidents […]
Benefits of a Dashboard Camera
As we all know, the streets and highways of California can be a wild place and accidents can happen. Collisions can range from disorienting to terrifying, and reconstructing the events around a crash can be a challenge in some cases. While there are more street and traffic light cameras than ever before, obviously not every angle of […]
Scooter Safety
Since the program began in 2018, when the city of Los Angeles legalized scooters and made a plan to distribute more, they have been a ubiquitous addition to the city streets. Touted as a boon to lower-income people who would have difficulty purchasing and maintaining cars, the scooters were a popular initiative. They were approved […]
contact form
